South Sudan In Focus

“I would urge in the name of the suffering people that the focus on constructive media news rather than look for sensationalism and try to pass the wrong message across the continent. There is no easy undertaking in a peace process. It is challenging. So we wish you to be objective and constructive."

Since the day of independence began South Sudan, it heralded to the people of south Sudan that they would ultimately be crowned with the dividend of independence and peace. But within a short period of time, only in two years, we witnessed today that again parents are burying their loved ones, their sons and daughters. This is painful, painful to the people of South Sudan, painful to all of us in the region because peace, tranquility, development and success is indivisible in our region.”

“The parties have agreed to tackle two critical items of agenda both of which are to clear the way for going into substantive talks that brough the conflict in the country. These are the cessation of hostilities with all elaborate mechanism for verification and monitoring, but also the status of detainees. Addressing these issues would naturally and obviously create a conducive environment for the talks.”

South Sudan releases seven of 11 political figures arrested after unrest broke out in Juba on Dec. 15, and hands them over to the custody of the authorities in neighboring Kenya. Four other detainees could face treason charges.

President Salva Kiir's order for the governors of Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile states to prepare assessment reports of damages in their states from nearly six weeks of fighting came just hours before the two sides in the conflict signed a ceasefire deal.

South Sudan government expresses surprise as Information Minister is denied permission to enter U.N.site in Bor where 10,000 people are sheltering, but the U.N.says it is merely enforcing its no-weapons rule and remaining neutral in the five-week conflict.

Doctors Without Borders says attacks make it difficult to continue the medical group's work in South Sudan, where it has treated hundreds of people in the month since fighting broke out between pro- and anti-government forces.

Peace talks in Addis Ababa stumble, civilians flee fighting in South Sudan, a senior U.S. State Department official warns South Sudan is on the brink of collapse three years after its citizens voted "peacefully and joyfully" for independence from Sudan.

The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Peter Maurer, says well over 1,000 civilians have died in the fighting in South Sudan and vows to continue providing assistance to them, despite many challenges facing humanitarian agencies.

The SPLA and a retired bishop say long-time rebel leader David Yau Yau wants to sign a ceasefire deal with the government to help alleviate the plight of civilians displaced by the current unrest in South Sudan.

IGAD chief mediator Seyoum Mesfin says the two sides in the South Sudan conflict are ready to start substantive talks, and pleads with them to bring peace to their country, where generations of parents have lost their children to war.

Negotiators for President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar meet separately in Addis Ababa with African mediators to try to hammer out the ground rules for face-to-face talks to end three weeks of violence in South Sudan.

The number of displaced persons is growing by thousands each day and will continue to grow if the South Sudanese leaders are unable to reach a peace deal at talks in Addis Ababa, a top U.N. official says.

January 2014

South Sudan in Focus (SSIF) is a 30-minute weekday English-language broadcast/internet program covering rapidly changing developments in the new nation of South Sudan and the region.

The program co-hosts are John Tanza, in Washington D.C., and Charlton Doki, in Juba.SSIF airs at 7:30 pm in Juba (1630 UTC) and can be heard on FM stations throughout South Sudan, on shortwave, and on VOA’s 24-hour channel in Nairobi at 8:30 pm. SSIF relies on a network of stringers throughout South Sudan, a Washington, .D.C-based reporter, and the worldwide resources of VOA to provide the latest news on South Sudan, the region and the world.

South Sudan in Focus co-hosts John Tanza and Charlton Doki were the moderators for a Town Hall meeting held in Juba on September 7, 2012. Listen to the full program.

To leave a message for the program staff, call +1.202.205.9942. After you hear the VOA identification, press 97 and then leave your message after the tone. Speak clearly and provide your name and location. We might use your comments in our program!